The first five thousand imperial cavalry, after traveling day and night, finally approached the border of Meiling County before dawn.

They set off half a day earlier than Qin Zhaoyue's group, and after a full night of forced marching from yesterday dusk to this morning, they barely managed to catch up.

Exhausted, the men and horses had just found a relatively flat spot to set up camp when the guards at the camp gate suddenly saw three figures appear silently before them like ghosts, startling the guards so much that they almost drew their swords!

"You...you are...the Sixth Princess?"

The guard stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

This place is already on the edge of the front line. How could the Sixth Princess, a golden branch and jade leaf, suddenly appear in such a dangerous place?

Qin Zhaoyue didn't say much, only calmly saying, "Meng Jian has arrived, right? Let me know."

"Yes... I'll go right away!"

One of the quick-witted guards realized what was happening and turned to run back into the camp at breakneck speed.

Before long, Meng Jian, covered in dust and still in his armor, strode over, his face showing surprise and solemnity.

"Sixth Prince!"

"We'll talk again once we're back in camp."

"yes!"

Soon, everyone entered the newly erected command tent.

Outside the tent, the main force consisted of 5,000 elite imperial guards, plus 15,000 soldiers of various backgrounds who had gathered along the way.

Although their combat strength was uneven and not particularly strong, the 20,000 troops stationed here, with their banners waving, formed a fairly large defensive line.

Inside the main tent, without Qin Zhaoyue's prompting, Jiang Wuyai subtly moved his mind, and an invisible "domain" quietly isolated the tent from the outside world.

Meng Jian never expected to reunite with the Sixth Princess here. His feelings were complicated and hard to describe. He was about to speak...

Qin Zhaoyue clearly had no intention of catching up or exchanging pleasantries, and went straight to the point:

"Commander Meng, before leaving the capital, did General Meng Guang give you any other instructions?"

Meng Jian was taken aback, then replied solemnly:

"My grandfather strictly ordered that a solid defensive line be established immediately upon arrival."

"Quickly regroup all units and consolidate combat power to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, and await further intelligence from the Xuanji Guard."

Qin Zhaoyue understood.

Meng Guang kept his mouth shut, not even revealing a word to his grandson, who was the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard and personally went to the front lines.

No wonder the Meng family was able to control the capital's defenses for generations, and was regarded as a pillar of the state by the Empress Dowager, who promoted them to the position of Grand Minister of State. It was by no means a matter of luck.

She straightened her expression, quickened her pace, and dropped the bombshell news one by one:

"The only two remaining second-rank guards of the aristocratic family, as well as the vast majority of third-rank retainers, were executed last night."

Meng Jian's pupils suddenly contracted!

"The core members of their family have been almost entirely eliminated, and the four new family heads are now being controlled by the Southern Frontier Saintess Ayado through witchcraft."

Meng Jian gasped for breath!

"The Holy Maiden Ayado of Southern Xinjiang has persuaded the five tribal leaders to surrender. Once this matter is settled, negotiations will begin."

The conditions are that the southern border region be formally incorporated into the territory of Dagan, and that trade be established, education be promoted, and that the people be allowed to cultivate and settle there…

Meng Jian looked astonished!

"Of the three major rebel camps at the front, the Southern Xinjiang camp has already defected. Ayado is indirectly controlling the 10,000 private soldiers she has recruited by manipulating the four major family heads."

The remaining central army camp, whose commander Gao Huan and his two hundred personal guards had been eliminated, was now leaderless.

Meng Jian was completely stunned, almost speechless: ?!

What did he hear? He quickly raised his hand, his voice trembling:

"Sixth Prince, please, please wait a moment..."

The amount of information was too enormous and alarming; he needed time to process it.

The elite forces of the powerful families were wiped out?

Not only did Southern Xinjiang surrender, but it also wanted to bring all its land back to the country.

Two of the three rebel battalions are gone, and the remaining commander is dead.

He didn't dare delay for a moment after receiving the order, and rushed here day and night.

Judging from this, if he had been any slower on the road, the chaos in Zhuque South Road would have subsided on its own by now.

Qin Zhaoyue gave him a dozen or so breaths to process it, then spoke in an unquestionable tone:

You'd better hurry up.

In less than an hour, the left and right battalions at the front will launch an attack on the central army camp simultaneously.

You must immediately complete the troop assembly, break through from the front, and consolidate the battle.

What? You want to attack immediately?

Qin Zhaoyue narrowed her eyes, a hint of impatience already showing on her face:

"Young man, can't you be a little more composed when things happen? Did I come here specifically to watch you stand there dumbfounded?"

Meng Jian: "..."

How can you blame him? Listen to what you're saying!

"Your subordinate obeys. We will assemble our forces immediately!"

He suppressed his turbulent emotions and immediately accepted the order.

After a long march, both men and horses are exhausted and should have taken a good rest.

If the rebels had no intention of launching an offensive, the original plan was to split up the Imperial Guards and incorporate them into the local militia to maintain basic combat strength.

But right now... all conventions have been broken!

They had no time to care about their exhaustion or the fighting strength of the government troops.

If he cannot quickly quell the war with such an absolute advantage, then he has truly wasted his position as the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards.

“Wait a minute,” Qin Zhaoyue interrupted him this time, “that assassin guard who’s always with you… what’s his name again?”

"Your Highness, it is Qin Fang."

"Yes, Qin Fang. What is his cultivation level now?"

"Still at the fourth rank."

"And you?"

"This humble general... is also at the peak of the fourth rank."

"waste."

Meng Jian: "..."

At his age, reaching the peak of the fourth rank was already a mark of excellence in the military.

Moreover, the Meng family's martial arts emphasize a solid foundation and gradual progress in order to have a greater chance of advancing to the Divine Martial Realm. How can one be impatient for quick success?

But he understood Qin Zhaoyue's unspoken meaning.

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!